LanguageTool as a CAT tool for Easy-to-Read in Spanish

Margot Madina, Itziar Gonzalez-Dios, Melanie Siegel


Abstract
Easy-to-Read (E2R) is an approach to content creation that emphasizes simplicity and clarity in language to make texts more accessible to readers with cognitive challenges or learning disabilities. The Spanish version of E2R is called Lectura Fácil (LF). E2R and its variants, such as LF, focus on straightforward language and structure to enhance readability. The manual production of such texts is both time and resource expensive. In this work, we have developed LFWriteAssist, an authoring support tool that aligns with the guidelines of LF. It is underpinned by the functionalities of LanguageTool, a free and open source grammar, style and spelling checker. Our tool assists in ensuring compliance with LF standard, provides definitions for complex, polysemic, or infrequently used terms, and acronym extensions. The tool is primarily targeted at LF creators, as it serves as an authoring aid, identifying any rule infringements and assisting with language simplifications. However, it can be used by anyone who seek to enhance text readability and inclusivity. The tool’s code is made available as open source, thereby contributing to the wider effort of creating inclusive and comprehensible content.
Anthology ID:
2024.readi-1.8
Volume:
Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop on Tools and Resources for People with REAding DIfficulties (READI) @ LREC-COLING 2024
Month:
May
Year:
2024
Address:
Torino, Italia
Editors:
Rodrigo Wilkens, Rémi Cardon, Amalia Todirascu, Núria Gala
Venues:
READI | WS
SIG:
Publisher:
ELRA and ICCL
Note:
Pages:
93–101
Language:
URL:
https://aclanthology.org/2024.readi-1.8
DOI:
Bibkey:
Cite (ACL):
Margot Madina, Itziar Gonzalez-Dios, and Melanie Siegel. 2024. LanguageTool as a CAT tool for Easy-to-Read in Spanish. In Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop on Tools and Resources for People with REAding DIfficulties (READI) @ LREC-COLING 2024, pages 93–101, Torino, Italia. ELRA and ICCL.
Cite (Informal):
LanguageTool as a CAT tool for Easy-to-Read in Spanish (Madina et al., READI-WS 2024)
Copy Citation:
PDF:
https://aclanthology.org/2024.readi-1.8.pdf